Several members of the Deep River Fire Department came before the Deep River Board of Selectmen (BOS) at its regular meeting on June 22, to ask for forward movement on a third-party needs assessment of the department and bringing a formal plan for an expansion of its current facilities to referendum.

Prior to the BOS meeting, a letter was sent on June 7 to First Selectman Angus McDonald from the trustees of the Fire Department, Richard Sypher, Tom Law, and Donald Sampson.

In the letter, the trustees said there was a lack of interest in the expansion project. Without a clear commitment to the project within 60 days of the letter, the trustees said that they would consider selling the department’s property at 51 Union Street. The house and land at this location was purchased in 2007 by the Fire Department to be used for an expansion of its current headquarters, at 57 Union Street.

During the BOS meeting, McDonald said that he takes “a bit of exception” to the content of the letter, pointing to the most recent developments associated with the project and that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted progress. McDonald said that he has been working with an engineering firm to develop plans that would be used by a construction company for a formal cost estimate, which is required before bringing the project to a town meeting.

“If it doesn’t move, I would love to have weekly meetings with someone to try and ensure that people are not getting the impression that ‘We’re working on it and we’ll get back to you,’” said McDonald. “This is a cooperative effort. This is not for Angus to just do. This is a cooperative effort, and it needs to continue to be a cooperative effort.

“I will work as hard as I can for this Fire Department because it’s for the town, but there is a lot of other things that need to be done and I’m trying as hard as I can,” he continued.

After lengthy discussion, consensus was reached for the project to move forward with regular meetings involving Selectman Jim Olson and various members of the Fire Department, as was happening prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the close of the conversation, Selectman Duane Gates said that although agreement can be made to move forward, the ultimate decision will be made by the residents of Deep River.

“The townspeople have to vote for it,” said Gates. “That’s the bottom line.”

The project to either renovate, expand, or build a new fire station in Deep River has been in the works for more than a decade.

A building committee to analyze conditions and make recommendations to renovate the department’s main headquarters, at 57 Union Street, was first formed in 2006. A $3.9 million proposal for the project was rejected by citizens at a referendum in 2007. A $2.4 million proposal for the project was rejected by citizens at a referendum in 2010.

More information is available on the town website, at www.deepriverct.us/firehouse- study-committee.